Automatic air and steam coupling attachment for railway-cars.



4 H. VIDEBAK. AUTOMATIC AIR AND STEAM'OOUPLING ATTACHMENT FOR RAILWAY CARS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, 1913.

1,084,586. Patented Jan. 13,1914

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAP" CILWASNINGNN. II. C.

Patented Jam 13, 1914.

2 8EBBTSSHEBT 2.

H. VIDEBAK. AUTOMATIC AIR AND STEAM COUPLING ATTACHMENT FOB RAILWAY CARS. 1 nruonxox mum 11.22.

n2 \r If in mum m. cm'flmrulun. IL C 1) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VIDEBAK, OF CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF 'I'O NIELS P 1. PAIJLBON, OF CALGARY, ALBERTA- CANADA.

l AUTOMATIC AIR AND STEAM COUPLING ATTACHMENT FOR RAILWAY-CABS.

menses.

Specification of Letters Patent. npplicaltionfilcd March 22, 1918. Serial No. 756,126.

Patented Jan. 13,1914.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I Hans VIDEBAK, a subject of the King of Cireat Britain, and resident of the city of Calgary, Province of Alberta, Canada, have'invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Air and Steam Coupler Attachments for RailwayeCars, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in devices for automatically coupling air or steam conduit lines between railway cars, as

described in the present specification, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings that-form part of the same.

The invention consists essentially of the novel arran ment ,and construction of parts, where y each coupling member is sprin held to an outward angular position, and tted with a ta. cred forward portion and a socket ada to to co-act when meeting a-second coup ing mcmber,. and place in register suitable valve controlled openings to completea train-line conduit.

The objects of the invention are to provide a-means of a simple'and durable con- I struction, whereby the train-line conduit of a railway train may be automatically coupled coincidentlywith the meetingand coupling of the cars, and thus eliminate the necessity of attendants entering between the cars to cou lo the train-line connec tions by hand with the resultant labor and danger to life.

In the drawings, Figure l is a. side elevation view of a pair of the automatic couplers in readiness to meet and attached to the regular couplers of the cars.

in register, showing the position of the regular couplers thereabove in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a con 1 1g; 2 1s a plan view of a pair of couplers when tending a considerable distance below the coupling 1 as shown in Fig.1, to accommodate and-support the automatic air-line couplmg as hereinafter described, said pin havmg the head at the bottom thereof, and the up or end held in the coupler by the washer MK split pm 10.

3 is a groove extending longitudinally of the knuckle pin 2 towardthe lower end thereof, and having the radially extending recesses 4 at each end thereof to receive the ends of a staple, as hereinafter described 5 is the bod of the air-line coupler stormed substantially rectangular, and havmg the front face 6 thereof angular-1y offset at 7 toward the forward end, and the tapered extension 8 forming a horn or beak similar to an anvil beak, and forming the forward end.

9 is a slot extending vertically through the body of the coupler, and through which the lower end of the pin 2 extends to support the air coupler, w ch normally rests u on the head as arranged at the lower end of the pin.

11 is an opening throu h the rear end of the coupler Into the slot 12 is a recess in the bottom of the coupler, forming a, chamber for certain operative parts as hereinafter described.

13 is a cored passage extending from the angular front face 7 of the coupler through to the back thereof, said cored passage being situated above the recess 12 and ahead of the vertically extending slot 9.

14 are orifices extending from the vertical slot 9 to the forward end of the coupler, one aboveand one below the cored passage 13, said orifices being counter-bored at the innerends thereof at 15 for substantially one-half the length.

16 is an arc-shaped plate having-the inner face thereof formed to fit the periphery of the pin 2 for substantially halfway therearound, said plate bearing against said pin within the vertical slot 9.

17 areguide rods securely riveted at the inner ends thereof in suit-able orifices in the plate 16, and extendingoutward-1y therefrom into the orifices 14: in said cou ler.

18 are spiral springs cncirc up; the rods 17 between the plate 16 and the outer end of the counter-bored portions 15 of the 01:1 fices 14, said springs exerting a continual pressure upon the plato- 16',-and thereby-- re:

taining the pin 2-normally' at the end of the vertical slot 9 adjacent the inner end of the coupler, though allowing the coupler to move against the action of the sprin to the cm theextent of the length of the slot-9' rear toward the forward end of the coupler.

19 is a set-screw inserted into a suitably threaded orifice in the side of the'knucklej pin 2, and having theend thereof projecting into the opening ll and itmay be here men tioned that the knuckle pin is secured from rotation in the regular car coupler, thus the V screw 19 limits the rotation "of the autotherethrough, said plates having the orifices 22 and 23 therethrough.

22 and 23, and havingthe outwardly extending peripheral flange 25, which is clamped 2 nd it may be here mentioned that the between the plates 20 and 21, whereby the ends ofthe rubber bushing 24: pro]ect one slightly onthe insideiofthe plate 22, and

the other slightly on the outside of the plate rubber bushing with or without the plates between which it is secured, may be readily removed and-renewed when desired' I 26 is a valve stem having the offset crankshaped lower end 27 extending substantially across the recess 12, the vertical portion of M Q said stem extending upwardly fromthe reoess, through a suitable vertical orifice 28, into and throu h the cored passage 13 on the forward next the face plate 20, the upper extremity of said stem extending on into asuitable extends through the cored passage 13,- said valve blade extending behind the-plate 20 orifice 29 in the coupler body at the top of the cored passage 13.

3015 a valve blade fixedly mounted at one end thereof on the valve stem 26 where "it over the opening therethrough, and seatin upon the inner end of therubber bushing 2 31 is a valve rod having the eye 32 formed atone end thereof and encircling the knuckle pin within the recess 12, said valverod-extending along said recess toward the forward end of the oouplenand having the,

outerend thereof bent at right angles toward the back of the coupler, and terminating in the hook 33. 1

34 is a staple formed'with a long straight section extendingthelength of the groove 3 in the knuckle pin .2, and having the in wnrdly turned staple. ends thereof inserted in the recesses 4 at each end of said groove 3, whereby the, straighflportion of said 24 is a rubber bushing fitting the orifices '6' thereof and inuned-iatcly- 35. is a coil spring having the inner end thereof looped about the straight portion of the staple 34, whereby it may slide freely up and down the length of the staple with any vertical movement of the coupler, said coil-spring encirclin the knuckle pm 2 within therecess 12 of Elie coupler, and having the outer end thereof caught onto the crank end'of-the vlve stem 26.

-- The coil-spring has a double function, namely, its'position about the knuckle pin, and the manner in which it is secured at one end thereof to the same turns the coupler about the pin to the position shown'in Figs. 1 and 3, that is, with the set-screw 19 ainst the side of the opening 11 next .to the front face of the coupler, 'and also the said spring drawson' the crank end of the valve stem 26 to turn the valve 28 into position against the rubber bushing 24.

36 is a bottom platesuitably secured over the entire under side of the coupler, andin-j closing the recess 12. with the several arts therein contained'as hereinbefore described, said plate however having the slot 37 therethrough registering with the slot 9 to admit of the movement, of the coupler on the knuckle ping as hereinbefore described.

38 is a socket on the front face of the coule'r, and shown in the accompanying drawinto substantially pyramidal shape, said plate having-the flanges 39 firmly screwed or otherwise fastened to the coupler whereby the flaring portion of the socket, faces a ward the outer and ta red end 8- of the con pier, and further has 0 o ening 40 through -which the extreme end of t e tapered pr0jection or beak of another coupler may prqect inafter fully described.

. 41 anip 'le screwed into the correspondingly three ed opening in the back of the coupler leading to the cored passage'lil, said nipple havinghthe regular air or steam conduit hose oft e train line connected thereto whereby the coupler is permitted freedom oi movement.

The coupler has been described in the foregoing specification in its normal position before meeting and interlookin with another coupler, that is, in its forwar position on the knuckle pin 2, and projectin angularly to present both the beak an the lines in Fig. 2. It will also be understood that inthis positionthe valve in the cored passage is in its closed position.

Upon the meeting of two cars for coupling purposes the beaks of the couplers, projecting singularly forward as they do an on reverse sides, will take into the sockets of the opposite couplers, and be guided up the insocket toward the front as shown in dotted mgs as formed from a' plate of metal bent slightly when interlocked therewith, as herecline side of the socket until the extreme the couplers are forced backwardly along the slots 9 on the knuckle pins 2 against the action of the spiral springs 18, whereby the rubber gaskets on the angnlarly oiiset portions 7 of the --front faces are brought firmly into register one with the other, effecting a tight joint. The forcing back of each coupler alon the slot 9 on the knuckle pin 2 as above escribed further carries the valve rod 31 toward the forward end of the couplcr, and thereby turns the crank ends 27 of the valve stems to open the valves away from the inside face of the rubber bushings,

and thus open the conduit line through, the

- couplers, and the pressure of air or steam and mounting'the necessary va.

pass' firmly end to end, and form an absolutely tight joint. 7

The regular car couplers while united will U of course hold the air couplers firmly one '35 against the other, and any vertical sliding movement which may occur between the regular car couplers will in no manner aifect the air couplers, as tgfiy are free to move vertically on the knu e pins as hereinbefore described a suflicient distance to compensate for any such movement of the regular car couplers.

When the r 1121' car couplers are uncoupled it will e readily understood that the automatic air couplers may withdraw one from the other, and immediately an air coupler is in this manner free, it will be actuated by the coil and spiral springs to assume its normal a air and forward position, as described lly in the first of this specification.

It may be here mentioned that to obviate complicity in the drawings, one cored passage has been shown in each air coupler, whereby a single train line maly be completed, throughout the train. I owever, if desired two or more train lines may be completed by duplicating the cored passages and extending the valve stem through the same,

ves thereon. It will further be understood that the nipple secured in'the cored passage on the back of the coupler may be replaced by any regular design of air or steam head to which the air or steam hose provided with e apices of the sockets, as

therethrough will tend to enlarge the ru er bushings, so that they compress a similar head may be attached for automatic coupling purposes, or may be detached for coupling in the regular manner by hand to an ordinary hose carrying a head.

The many details of construction and arrangement of parts as shown in the accompanying drawings are of course illustrated, and may be'modified in many ways without departing from thespirit of my invention.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In an automatic coupling for air or steam conduit lines, the combination with the car coupler having an elongated knuckle pin extendlng downwardly therefrom, of a couplin member mounted on said knuckle pin and springheld to an outward angular position and having a valve controlled fluid passage therethrough and a ta cred forward portion and a socket for-me on the forward face thereof and into which the tapered forward portion of asecond coupler extends upon meeting.

2. In an automatic coupling for air or steam conduit lines, the combination with a car coupler, of a knuckle pin secured in said coupler and extending downwardly therebelow and having a longitudinally extendinng groove, a coupling member havinga v ve controlled fluid passage therethrough and a tapered beak extension and a socket formed on the forward face thereof and mounted upon said knuckle pin over the longitudinal groove therein, a. staple rod secured in said groove, a coil-spring encircling said knuckle pin and having one end thereo looped around said staple rod and the other end thereofsecured to said coupling member to exert a radlal action upon the same about said knuckle pin, means for limiting the radial movement of said coupling member and means for limiting the vertical movement of said coupling member upon said knuckle pin.

3. In an automatic coupling for air or steam conduit lines, the combination with a car coupler, of a. knuckle pin secured in said coupler and extending downwardly therebelow, a coupling member having a fluid passage therethrough and a tapered beak extension and a socket formed on one face thereof and a vertical slot through which said knuckle pin extends, means for s ringholcling said coupling member witi the knuckle Ipin at the end of saidslot opposite said bea a flap valve controlling the opening through said fluid passage, 21 valve stem operatively connected to said flap valve and having a crank formed at the end thereof and a valve rod encircling said knuckle pin and operatively engaging with the crank end of said valve stem to operate said valve upon an endwise movement of said coupling member.

4.11). an automatic coupling for air or steam conduit lines, the combination with a oar coupler, of a knuckle in secured in said coupler and extending ownwardly therebelow, a coupling .rnember-of substantiallyrectangula-r shape'hevinga beak-shaped. extension f roxn one end'thereof and a. socket termed on one side face thereof and e fluid therethrough and a vertical slot through seid orifices, spiral. sprin encircling said guide rods between said eteend said orifices, means for springhol 'ng said coupling member into position rndielly about said knuckle pin and a. valve controlling the opening through seidfiuid passage and operative upon the endwise movement of said member on'said knuckle pin.

5. In an automatic coupling vfor air or steam conduit lines, the combination with a car coupler-having e. knuckle pm secured therein and. extending downwardlytherebedepict of this patent may be obtained low, of a; coupling member .of substantially rect er shape: having 'one side face thereo angular-1y offset intermediate of the length thereof and a heck entension from one end and a fluid passage therethrough opening into the'angularly offset portion 0 the one "side face and a vertical slot through Whl-Ohiflrld lflfllGklQ pin extends, a rubber bushing secured over the opening to said fluid passage through said angularl offset face, a flap velvearranged within s'a'd fluid passage and closing 'egeinst the inner face of said bushing, means for flexibly connecting the, opposite end ofsaid fluid 'pasage with the train-line of the .car and means for permitti a. limitedmovement of said 'cou ling mem er u 11 said knuckle pin verti ly, radially an 1 hwise.

Signed at the city of Calgary, rovince of Alberta; Canada, this-31st day of December, 1912;

HANS VIDEBAK.

Inpresence of- Answers. B. HAQKAY, Cn'rnnnmn F. Gonnon.

or two cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Intent,

warhingto n n. 0." 

